Studio Team

Wade Nichols owns Starsound Studios, one of the top studios in Ohio that has the only Dolby-certified Atmos Mixing Studio. He teaches audio-by-video tutorials on his YouTube channel, which is growing daily, and he has started The Cleveland Recording Summit. The CRS is a series of masterclasses on how to record. He grew up in Lakewood, Ohio. Music has always been a part of his life. Wade took verbal quizzes on the instrument playing on a Herb Albert record by his mother while at 3 or 4. Trying to catch him with a sound that he did not know was the goal. His mother described that he was never stumped. That is how the love of music began! Our studio team's audio engine is Wade Nichols.

Wade Nichols' journey in the music industry began in his school and church choir during middle and high school. After picking up the guitar, he started playing in bands and learning to run sound for those gigs. His music career took off when he found himself in the right place at the right time, leading to opportunities to run live sound for national recording artists, live theater, and hundreds of live local bands in and around the Milwaukee area. During this time, he wrote three albums, and his songs were played on local Milwaukee radio stations. He also performed these songs live on local cable shows, showcasing his talent and passion for music. It's worth noting that Wade achieved all this without formal music training, a testament to his natural talent and dedication.

Multiple Projects

1993, Wade Nichols embarked on a new venture, taking the reins of Starsound Studios in Milwaukee. This entrepreneurial spirit led him to re-establish the studio upon his return to Northeast Ohio in 2001. Additionally, he demonstrated his creative prowess by founding the arena rock tribute band Rock Rewind. Wade meticulously designed and executed the music, video, and light show for the band's performances at Starsound Studios.

Wade Nichols' career journey is a testament to his adaptability and resilience. Despite his success in the music industry, he never stopped learning. In 2004, when a principal requested that he teach music in the Cleveland School District, he didn't hesitate. He wrote a grant, and when accepted, he installed a recording studio lab in the back of the school auditorium. Despite the closure of that building, Wade's passion for education and ability to adapt led him to his current role, teaching 5th-grade math and science.

Meeting His Mentors

Unique opportunities and invaluable experiences have marked Wade's journey. He had the privilege of traveling to New York, where he learned from the esteemed Grammy-nominated recording engineer Fab Dupont not once but twice. A stint followed this in Boston, where he collaborated with the renowned company Izotope, the Grammy-nominated mastering engineer, and Berkley College of Music professor Johnathan Wyner.

He has also driven to Sweetwater in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to learn numerous times from their recording, mixing, mastering, or financial studio operations master classes from Mark Hornsby. Wade took multiple master mixing classes at Sweetwater Studios with the one and only Chris Lord-Alge. CLA has won multiple Grammys. Wade also took a master recording class with Ed Cherney provided by Sweetwater Studios. Ed has won several Grammy, TEC, and Emmy awards. The extensive list of mentors has imparted years of recording and engineering wisdom. Therefore, Wade has built up much knowledge for his clients. In other words, they benefit from the sound of their recordings. Another massive guiding force on his path was Derek Senestraro. He started as Wade's sales engineer. Over the years, they have become good friends.

Wade's commitment to his craft is unwavering. He is currently enrolled in the RAT Recording Arts and Technology program at Tri-C Community College, pursuing an associate's degree in recording/engineering. Despite the running joke that he is 'back in school to learn what he already knows and does daily at Starsound Studios,' Wade's dedication to continuous learning is a testament to his passion and commitment to his profession. All of this education Wade sought makes our team the right choice for your next recording.

Wade is accepting interns from multiple schools, colleges, and universities. He has had interns from Berklee College Of Music, Ohio University, Nordonia High School, Chillicothe Recording, Tiffin University, Cuyahoga Community College, and Youngstown State University. Tiffin University has now accredited Wade. He will mentor students for their internships to become recording engineers. He is also earning that same accreditation from Tri-C. Wade is going to give seminars to the students in the RAT program. He is now starting to become the mentor of young engineers like his mentors have been to him. Since the construction of the Dolby Atmos studio, Tri-C will have him conduct masterclasses for their students and mentorship program.